Software Engineer Software Developer Salaries

How much does a Software Engineer Software Developer make?

Total pay range
$137K - $204K/yr
$166K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$110K - $155K/yrBase pay
$26K - $49K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
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Last updated Apr 10, 2025219.4K Salaries Submitted
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilizes salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
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How accurate is a total pay range of $137K-$204K/yr?
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Recent salaries shared by Software Developer

Location

50 salaries

Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base Additional pay
Software Developer
4-6 years
$121K - $139K/yr
Cary, NC
$121K - $139K/yr
Software Developer
15+ years
$134K - $156K/yr
Chicago, IL
$134K - $156K/yr
Software Developer
1-3 years
$69K - $81K/yr
Pittsburgh, PA
$69K - $81K/yr
Software Developer
10-14 years
$280K/yr
$263K • $17K
Verona, WI
$280K/yr
$263K • $17K
Software Developer
1-3 years
$139K - $161K/yr
New York, NY
$139K - $161K/yr
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Software Developer
1-3 years
$121K/yr
$121K • $0
Grapevine, TX
$121K/yr
$121K • $0
Software Developer
4-6 years
$90K - $105K/yr
Atlanta, GA
$90K - $105K/yr
Software Developer
10-14 years
$149K/yr
$121K • $28K
Plano, TX
$149K/yr
$121K • $28K
Software Developer
4-6 years
$125K/yr
$113K • $12K
Chicago, IL
$125K/yr
$113K • $12K
Software Developer
7-9 years
$123K - $143K/yr
Cary, NC
$123K - $143K/yr

Viewing 1 - 10 of 50

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Economist Overview graphic
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.Show more

Software Developer salary in US
A Software Developer salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Software Developer in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $25,331 to $65,420 per year, based on 5 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Software Developer in US can make a salary range of $92,257 to $145,713 with at least 2 years of experience, based on 33,786 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Software Developer gets the highest compensation are Oracle Corporation, Intuit Inc. and Macquarie Group Limited. Bigger companies typically pay 42.53% more than smaller companies for a Software Developer.Show more

Frequently asked questions about Software Developer salaries

The average salary for a Software Developer is $165,912 per year or $80 per hour in United States, which is in line with the national average. Top earners have reported making up to $244,720 (90th percentile). However, the typical pay range in United States is between $136,755 (25th percentile) and $204,115 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 219413 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Software Developer employees in United States as of June 2026.
The highest salary for a Software Developer in United States is $204,115 per year, $17,010 per month or $98 per hour.
The lowest salary for a Software Developer in United States is $136,755 per year, $11,396 per month or $66 per hour.
The salary trajectory of a Software Developer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $149,997 per year (estimate) and goes up to $369,292 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
Software developers are paid well above average, often receiving six-figure salaries. The pay range reflects the demand for their skillset and the profitability of the products they make. Candidates with prior experience in the field or higher levels of education generally receive higher salaries. Pay is expected to grow as the digital transformation reaches a global level. Software developers can further increase their total pay by pursuing freelance consulting opportunities.
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In anonymous ratings left on Glassdoor, 71% of software developers say they're satisfied with how much they get paid. You could potentially earn an average of $23,846.87 through stock options and profit sharing if you work for a start-up as a software developer.
During your career as a software developer, you can earn average compensation ranging from $77,651.71 to $195,465.93. In general, jobs working for software publishers tend to pay above the average salary of $98,435.90 for developers. Once you have a few years of experience, you can likely qualify for a higher-paying position as a senior software developer.
Specialty certifications increase your software developer salary by expanding your expertise to new programming languages and skills. Consider boosting your salary with classes in project management, Scrum, Azure, Amazon Web Services, cloud services, Red Hat, Salesforce, or any of countless other areas. You can earn a master's degree in software development to improve your chances of moving into a management role in this field, which also increases the available salary. If you're interested in conducting research or teaching within the realm of software development, consider investing in a Ph.D. in software development.
To successfully negotiate a substantial salary for a software developer job, you'll need to know how much professionals in your region earn in similar roles. You should also show off your relevant skills and indicate how they can drive value for the client. Keep on top of the most profitable programming languages, since you'll have more leverage in the negotiations if you have in-demand expertise that most candidates lack. Emphasize your knowledge of various coding languages, such as Python, Java, Golang, and Ruby. In addition to direct tech skills, demonstrate your ability to manage projects successfully and maintain a high level of quality control.